Rose Eger
The Jewish Encyclopedia
of Western Pennsylvania
A project of the Rauh Jewish Archives at the Heinz History Center
Moshe Zuckerman Yachnovich (c.1865-c.1919) and his wife Doba (1868-c.1916) raised either nine or eleven (according to different accounts) children in Russia, Fruma, Israel, Louis, Joseph, Harry, Eitle, Sam, Leika and Mashka. Their sons Louis, Harry, Joseph and Sam immigrated to the United States to avoid being drafted into the Russian Army. The brothers all changed their name to Jackson after arriving in this country.
The first to settle here, Louis and Harry, helped form a social group in Munhall dedicated to improving the cultural literacy of immigrants by hosting plays, readings and debates.
In 1925, Harry Jackson (1893-1981) and his brother-in-law Morris Chamovitz (1888-1974) bought the bankrupt Economy Shoe Store in Aliquippa, Pa. They changed the name to Jackson Shoe Stores Inc. and opened store in Pittsburgh, as well as in other locations.
Harry Jackson married Rose Eger (1893-1983). They had two children, Daniel and Evelyn. After her father retired, Evelyn Jackson ran the store until it closed in the 1970s.
Louis Jackson (1890-1955) married Belle Averbach (1897-1977). He started out working in the steel industry before engaging in several unsuccessful business ventures, including a furniture store and a variety store. During World War II, Louis and Belle Jackson moved to New Jersey, where they purchased a chicken farm and made a living selling eggs. Louis Jackson “was happy for the first time in his life,” according to his nephew Daniel Jackson.
Louis and Belle Jackson had two children, Herbert and Lilyan. Herbert Jackson had epilepsy and, after convincing Westinghouse to hire him despite his medical condition, spent his entire career with the company, editing an in-house publication.
Unlike their brothers, who came directly to the region, Joseph and Sam Jackson arrived in Pennsylvania after spending time in Canada. Joseph Jackson became a retail merchant in Ford City, Pa. A fifth brother, Israel Yachnovich, stayed in present-day Belarus. He owned a grain mill.
